I was in Bali earlier this summer and Im brimming with enthusiasm over all my experiences there but Ill try to keep this short and informative.I got lots of good tips on TT and Im trying to pass on the favor. Its very easy and rewarding to base yourself in Ubud and take daytrips all over the the east and south. In Ubud and you will be endlessly annoyed by guys lining the streets offering "transport". Many of these guys are great fellows Im sure as Balinese men tend to be charming and enjoyable to be around but I have to say some are better choices to spend the day with than others. I went on day trips just about everyday for 11 days . A few times I joined in a trip organised by some fellow traveler and their driver and never had a bad time. One young guy ( like 27 or so ) stood out and I ended up with him for 5 or 6 days sometimes alone and sometimes shared. He casually chatted me up on the street for an hour ( without making any sales pitch) before I found out he was a driver. The remarkable things about him were his authenticity as a person and his obvious enjoyment of his job as a driver. He loves his own culture, is quite knowledgeble and enjoys sharing his knowledge. He is also knowledgeble and curious about other cultures and people and is currently learning French and finding ways to branch out from being a driver.He is extremely trustworthy and even remarkably punctual ( and patient with other's tardiness). He once took a friend of mine on an early long day trip to Lake Bratan and Tanah Lot on her way to the airport and dropped her there at exactly 2:30 as promissed then continued on some 1.5 hours and picked me up in Padang Bai at exactly 3:59pm for a 4:pm pick up.One has to be impressed, no? He was always great company, friendly , informative and never imposing.He was a great service provider but at the end Id have to say he has become a friend a as well. He basically charges the going rate or even a little less. At the moment any trip of 5 or six hours and less than 2 hours from Ubud seems to go for something between 30 and 40 USD( of course, as usual, that varies with fuel costs, time, distances, demand ect.). His price was always cheaper than that quoted to me by the hotel driver and right in line with what I would hear on the street.He will come and get you at the airport ( I know its 180,000 from the airport at the moment) or take you on a day trip and leave you somewhere and pick you up another day. His name is I Nyoman Suba or simply "Titak". His Cell number is +62 81-8056-28326; email komang_titaku@yahoo.com. His "Stand By" spot for his white minivan is in front of Warsa Bungalows acrosss from Ubud Bungalows on Monkey Forest Road in Ubud. Like I said business is slow right now and its nice to be with someone you can count on and enjoy so give him a call or an email and I assure you you wont be disapointed. Feel free to PM me or ask me any questions to ascertain Im not some tout or agent :) ---maybe I should be eh?
Adran,
I've made a note of your friend/driver along with cell number. Thanks. I would also like to hear what excursions you did from Ubud. I am leaving on August 25 and will stay 1 week before my husband joins me. I would love recommendations of places you visited. I'm also interesting in hiking Mt. Batur to see the sun rise and active trips.
Thanks

Hi
Care to share some of your more interesting day trips and the transport cost?
I am thinking of driving around myself. Will be in Bali for one week end August. Ubud for two days and then headin to Nusa Dua to be a beach bum.

Hello,
Having been to Bali and had a great time I was recommended by a friend here in Australia of a very close Balinese friend of hers.
He was an excellent driver & you felt safe being with him - He drove us all day long where we wanted to go, gave ideas & waited
whilst we did what we wanted to do for the day going from place to place, not to mention was very trust worthy and looked after
our bags. His english is not 100% but easy enough to understand and communicate well with.
Here are his details.
ph: 081 239 91887
email: mademangku@hotmail.com
Upon our return my friend built him a website & the photos taken were from when we were there and Made is in the photos!!!!
Our testimony was from Belinda and Danielle in Sydney!
Heres the website:
http://www.geocities.com/mademangkutours/<BR><BR>Good Luck - I would recommend him to anyone travelling to Bali !!!!!!

If not available, I would also recommend: Dewa Marco - dewamarco@hotmail.com
He has accommodated me throughout all of Bali on six occassions now.